Future challenges and recommendations

Rapid advances in information technology and telecommunications, and in particular mobile and wireless communications, converge towards the emergence of a new type of “infostructure” that has the potential of supporting a large spectrum of advanced services for healthcare and health. Currently the ICT community produces a great effort to drill down from the vision and the promises of wireless and mobile technologies and provide practical application solutions. Research and development include data gathering and omni-directional transfer of vital information, integration of human machine interface technology into handheld devices and personal applications, security and interoperability of date and integration with hospital legacy systems and electronic patient record. The ongoing evolution of wireless technology and mobile device capabilities is changing the way healthcare providers interact with information technologies. The growth and acceptance of mobile information technology at the point of care, coupled with the promise and convenience of data on demand, creates opportunities for enhanced patient care and safety. The developments presented in this section demonstrate clearly the innovation aspects and trends towards user oriented applications

ESTUDO FITOQUÍMICO E BIOLÓGICO DAS CASCAS DE Erythrina velutina Willd. - FABACEAE (LEGUMINOSAE - PAPILIONOIDEAE)

A Erythrina velutina Willd. é conhecida popularmente como mulungu, suas cascas são utilizadas principalmente pela população do nordeste brasileiro devido a suas propriedades calmante, sudorífica, emoliente e anestésica local. A pesquisa teve como propósitos o isolamento de substâncias químicas, a partir de técnicas cromatográficas, presentes no extrato bruto e frações deste (hexano, diclorometano, acetato de etila e hidroalcoólica remanescente). A identificação dos compostos isolados foi realizada por meio da análise dos dados das espectroscopias de ultravioleta, infravermelho e ressonância magnética nuclear de carbono e hidrogênio; a verificação da atividade antibacteriana do extrato bruto foi realizada através dos testes de difusão em disco e concentração inibitória mínima e, da fração hexano por teste de difusão em disco, além disso também foi procedida a verificação da atividade alelopática na germinação e alteração do crescimento da radícula e hipocótilo das sementes de Lactuca sativa para diferentes concentrações do extrato bruto e frações, os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pela análise de variância e teste de comparação múltipla de médias de Scott & Knott. Na fração hexano foram identificados o ácido fênico, ácido cinâmico, a-amirina, estigmasterol, b-amirina, b-sitosterol e lupeol por cromatografia gasosa e isolados o estigmasterol em mistura com o b-sitosterol. Da fração diclorometano foram isolados dois alcalóides e as estruturas propostas são eritralina, que foi identificada por comparação de seus dados espectrais com os dados publicados e já foi isolada desta espécie, 8-oxo-11b-metoxieritralina e eritrinina (não relatadas para a espécie); da fração hidroalcoólica remanescente isolou-se um composto que exibe algumas características de açúcar monocíclico, ainda não completamente identificado. O extrato bruto e a fração hexano demonstraram atividade antibacteriana moderada, em relação aos antibióticos controle, contra o Staphylococcus aureus e Streptococcus pyogenes. A germinação das sementes de Lactuca sativa não foi inibida e o crescimento da radícula e hipocótilo destas plântulas para o extrato bruto e frações foi estatisticamente significativo e diferente dos controles com água e etanol, a fração hidroalcoólica remanescente teve a maior atividade e alterou a morfologia das plântulas causando enovelamento, ausência de pêlos radiculares e ausência de folíolos. Cabe salientar que a atividade antibacteriana, a atividade alelopática e a presença de estigmasterol e o composto isolado da fração hidroalcoólica remanescente ainda não haviam sido citadas na literatura conforme levantamento bibliográfico para Erythrina velutina. Palavras-chave: alelopatia, análise estatística, atividade antibacteriana, microbiologia, alcalóides, estigmasterol. PHITOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STUDY FROM ERYTHRINA VELUTINA WILLD., FABACEAE (LEGUMINASAE- PAPILIONOIDEAE) BARK. Abstract Erythrina velutina Willd. is popularly known as mulungu, and its bark is used especially by the population of the Brazilian northeast owning to its sedative, sudorific, emollient and topic anaesthetic properties. This research is aimed at isolating the chemical substances in the crude extract and its partitions (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and hydro alcoholic remaining fractions), through chromatographic techniques. The analysis of the spectrum copies of ultraviolet, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance of carbon and hydrogen were used in the identification of the isolated compounds. The antibacterial activity of the crude extract was verified by using disk diffusion method and minimal inhibition concentration (MIC), and hexane fraction activity was verified through the disk diffusion method, and besides that the allelopathic activity in the germination and growth of the radicle and plantule of the Lactuca sativa seeds was checked at different concentrations of crude extract and fractions. Data were statistically examined by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scott Knott multiple comparison test. The hexane fraction GC showed fenic acid, cinnamic acid, a-amirin, stigmasterol, b-amirin, b-sitosterol and lupeol by gas chromatography; stigmasterol was isolated and identified as the major compound in the mixture with b-sitosterol. Two alkaloids were isolated from the dichloromethane fraction and the structures found were: erythraline that has been identified by comparing its spectral characteristics to its published ones and has been isolated from this gender, and 8oxo11(-methoxyerythraline and erythrinin which had not been related to this gender before; from the remaining hidroalcoholic fraction it was possible to segregate a compound that seems to have monocyclic sugar characteristics, but has not been thoroughly identified so far. The crude extract and the hexane fraction gave evidence of moderate antibacterial activity in relation to the antibiotics control, against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. The germination of Lactuca sativa seeds was not inhibited and the growth of the radicle and hypocotyls to the amount of crude extract and fractions were statistically significant and different from the water and ethanol control. The remaining hidroalcoholic fraction was the most active and that caused the plantules morphology to show alterations such as curling, radicle hair absence and follicle absence. It seems important to emphasize that antibacterial activity, allelopathic activity, stigmasterol presence and the isolated compound from the remaining hidroalcoholic fraction had never been mentioned before in literature according to a bibliographic survey of Erythrina velutina

Physical inactivity and associated factors in elderly people in Brazil

El objetivo fue analizar los factores asociados a la inactividad física en personas mayores en Brasil. Se utilizó un diseño transversal, con una muestra representativa de 909 sujetos de 60 años o más. Fueron clasificados como físicamente inactivos los individuos con menos de 150 minutos de actividad física semanal. La identificación de los factores sociodemográficos, aspectos comportamentales y de salud asociados con la inactividad física se realizó con un análisis multivariante a través de una regresión de Poisson Los resultados sugieren una prevalencia del 39,1% para la inactividad física. La inactividad física presenta una mayor prevalente con o el incremento de la edad, la falta de práctica de actividad física regular en el pasado, los síntomas de depresión y la discapacidad en las Actividades Instrumentales de la Vida Diaria. El aumento de la edad, la falta de práctica regular de actividad física en el pasado, los síntomas depresivos y la discapacidad en las Actividades Instrumentales de la Vida Diaria se evidencian como factores asociados a la inactividad física.The aim was to analyse factors associated with physical inactivity in elderly Brazilians. The study was carried out by using a cross-sectional design and it comprised a representative sample of 909 subjects. Physical inactivity was defined as fewer than 150 minutes per week. In order to identify socio-demographic factors and behavioural and health aspects, which may be associated with physical inactivity, we carried out a multivariate analysis through the Poisson regression. Results suggest that physical inactivity has a prevalence of 39.1%. Physical inactivity presents a higher prevalence with an increase in age, a lack of regular physical activity practice in the past, depressive symptoms and disability in the instrumental activities of daily living. An increase in age, a lack of regular physical activity practice in the past, depressive symptoms and disability in the instrumental activities of daily living are shown as causes of physical inactivit

Roadmap for stroke: Challenging the role of the neuronal extracellular matrix

Stroke is a major challenge in modern medicine and understanding the role of the neuronal extracellular matrix (NECM) in its pathophysiology is fundamental for promoting brain repair. Currently, stroke research is focused on the neurovascular unit (NVU). Impairment of the NVU leads to neuronal loss through post-ischemic and reperfusion injuries, as well as coagulatory and inflammatory processes. The ictal core is produced in a few minutes by the high metabolic demand of the central nervous system. Uncontrolled or prolonged inflammatory response is characterized by leukocyte infiltration of the injured site that is limited by astroglial reaction. The metabolic failure reshapes the NECM through matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and novel deposition of structural proteins continues within months of the acute event. These maladaptive reparative processes are responsible for the neurological clinical phenotype. In this review, we aim to provide a systems biology approach to stroke pathophysiology, relating the injury to the NVU with the pervasive metabolic failure, inflammatory response and modifications of the NECM. The available data will be used to build a protein–protein interaction (PPI) map starting with 38 proteins involved in stroke pathophysiology, taking into account the timeline of damage and the co-expression scores of their RNA patterns The application of the proposed network could lead to a more accurate design of translational experiments aiming at improving both the therapy and the rehabilitation processes

Towards all-non-vacuum-processed photovoltaic systems: a water-based screen-printed Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Photoabsorber with a 6.6% efficiency

During the last few decades, major advances have been made in photovoltaic systems based on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 chalcopyrite. However, the most efficient photovoltaic cells are processed under high-energy-demanding vacuum conditions. To lower the costs and facilitate high-throughput production, printing/coating processes are proving to be effective solutions. This work combined printing, coating, and chemical bath deposition processes of photoabsorber, buffer, and transparent conductive layers for the development of solution-processed photovoltaic systems. Using a sustainable approach, all inks were formulated using water and ethanol as solvents. Screen printing of the photoabsorber on fluorine-doped tin-oxide-coated glass followed by selenization, chemical bath deposition of the cadmium sulfide buffer, and final sputtering of the intrinsic zinc oxide and aluminum-doped zinc oxide top conductive layers delivered a 6.6% maximum efficiency solar cell, a record for screen-printed Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells. On the other hand, the all-non-vacuum-processed device with spray-coated intrinsic zinc-oxide- and tin-doped indium oxide top conductive layers delivered a 2.2% efficiency. The given approaches represent relevant steps towards the fabrication of sustainable and efficient Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells.This study was conducted with financial support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (PTDC/CTM-ENE/5387/2014, PTDC/NAN-MAT/28745/2017, UID/FIS/04650/2020, UID/QUI/0686/2020, PTDC/FIS-MAC/28157/2017, SFRH/BD/121780/2016 and SFRH/BD/143750/2019) and the Basque Government Industry Department (ELKARTEK and HAZITEK)

Densidade e Reciclagem: Uma proposta investigativa e interativa para o Ensino de Química no Ensino Médio

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Atividade antibacteriana e antifúngica de extratos etanólicos de Aster lanceolatus Willd., Asteraceae.

Conhecida popularmente como áster-arbustiva, margarida-de-são-miguel e monte-cassino, Aster lanceolatus é uma planta ornamental de corte. Sabendo-se que não existem estudos que atestem a atividade biológica desta espécie, procurou-se neste trabalho atividades antibacteriana e antifúngica. Para tanto se utilizaram extratos brutos etanólicos de duas porções distintas, das flores e dos caules com folhas. Para a atividade antibacteriana, oito bactérias patogênicas foram submetidas a ensaio de difusão em gel e concentração inibitória mínima. Demonstrou-se atividade do extrato bruto etanólico de flores contra Streptococcus pyogenes, em difusão em gel e atividade de extrato bruto etanólico de caules e folhas contra Salmonella typhimurium e Streptococcus pyogenes em concentração inibitória mínima. Para a atividade antifúngica, utilizaram-se três fungos patogênicos em ensaios de crescimento micelial em placas e bioautografia direta. No ensaio de crescimento micelial em placas verificou-se a inibição de Fusarium oxysporum e na bioautografia direta, inibição do Cylindrocladium spathulatum. Os resultados delinearam uma nova fonte de pesquisa, as plantas ornamentais. Estas podem ser fonte de constituintes químicos capazes de servirem como protótipos para novos agentes terapêuticos e para tratamento sanitário de plantas medicinais

Ozone tertiary treatment for pharmaceuticals and personal care products removal from municipal wastewater

An ozone pilot plant was installed at a conventional WWTP to evaluate the removal rate of emerging contaminants, drugs, and fragrances, as tertiary treatment. The filtered secondary effluent flow rate ranged between 1.3÷1.9 m3/h with a retention time of 10÷30 minutes and the plant operated with an ozone dose of 2- 4 mgO3/l. The results evidenced a high removal rate of 80-100% for most of the organic targeted compounds: Amisulpride, Azithromycin, Carbamazepine, Diclofenac, Clarithromycin and Ofloxacin. Lower removal rates from 20% to 80%, were observed for some substances e.g. Gabapentin Lactam, Galaxolidone, Irbesartan, Lamotrigine, and Tonalide. Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) treatment with O3/H2O2, (0.5–1.0–2 molH2O2/molO3) allowed improved results for almost all these latter. In addition, ozone determined up to 42% removal of the absorbance at 254 nm and 20% of COD, wastewater disinfection, a decrease of the GC-MS chromatographic area, and no acute toxicity effect nor estrogenic and mutagen effects have been detected